British press tip two Scots as best bets for Bond #6 role

Prepare yourself for the next wave of pitiful "Mish Moneypenny" impressions. Twenty-one years after Sean Connery hung up his toupee and Walther PPK, two fellow Scots have been named as the favourites to play that most quintessentially English of gentleman thugs, James Bond - according the Guardian newspaper (UK).

Bookies are quoting odds of 9-4 on Ewan McGregor slipping into the famous tuxedo, with his countryman Dougray Scott slightly behind at 9-2.

McGregor, star of Trainspotting and the new Star Wars films, and Scott, whose credits include Enigma and Mission Impossible II, are in the running after the team behind the 42-year-old film series decided to drop Pierce Brosnan from the role after nine years and four movies.

Jude Law, who had been tipped as the next 007, seems to have slipped behind in the race after the box office failure of his latest films Alfie, and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Bookmakers have now lengthened the 31-year-old actor's odds from 8-1 to 10-1.

"The public love a Scot," said Rupert Adams, a spokesman for William Hill.

"We have heard that Ewan McGregor has definitely been contacted or had a screen test whereas a lot of the other names are purely speculation.

"Dougray Scott also said that if he was offered the role he would take it," he said. "[He] appears to be Scotland's choice and if he gets the call-up punters will be queuing all over Edinburgh and Glasgow."

Mr Adams said the legacy of Sir Sean Connery had also had an impact on who they tip to lead the list of potential Bonds.

"In the past Connery has come top in people's favourite Bond and that can only help the chances of Ewan McGregor and Dougray Scott."

He said Law was now less likely to be picking up a licence to kill, a string of beautiful women and the very latest in hi-tech gadgetry.

"We think the failure of his last few films is bound to have had a negative effect on his chances of becoming Bond," he said. "Although in the past directors have been happy to cast relative unknowns, they have not cast unpopular actors."

Despite the strength of the Caledonian candidates, the field remains wide open.

Other contenders include: Clive Owen at 6-1; Hugh Jackman and Colin Farrell at 7-1; Ioan Gruffudd at 8-1; Eric Bana at 9-1, Orlando Bloom and Chris Feeney at 10-1; Rupert Everett and Hugh Grant at 20-1; Russell Crowe at 25-1, and Robbie Williams and Eminem at 100-1.

Thanks to `` for the alert.

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